Does Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Acceptance of Illness,
Emotional Distress and Depression Affect The Nutritional Status and
Quality of Life?
Abstract
Aim The aim of the study was to determine the affect of individuals with
type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) acceptance of illness, emotional distress,
depression on nutritional status, life quality. Methods This study was
conducted in 145 type 2 DM, 73 males and 72 females, ranging in age from
20-65 years. The Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) for the determination
of individuals’ acceptance of the illness, Problem Areas in Diabetes
(PAID) Scale for emotional distress, Beck Depression Scale (BDS) for
depression, Short Form-36 (SF-36) scales for quality of life and Healthy
Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) for diet quality was used. Results: The
mean score of individuals’ AIS were 30.2±5.62. Compared to women, men
had lower emotional distress and depression levels (p<0.05),
higher physical, mental life quality (p<0.001). The mean score
of individuals’ HEI-2010 were 54.8±12.85 and more than half of the
individuals had diet quality required to be improved. Models that were
emotional distress and SF-36 Mental Component Summary (MCS) with
acceptance of illness (F(2, 142)=58.404); AIS, BDS and age (years) with
emotional distress (F(3, 141)=53.174); emotional distress and SF-36 MCS
with depression status (F(2, 142)=82.029); acceptance of illness and
depression status with SF-36 MCS (F(2, 142)=70.937); emotional distress
and depression status with SF-36, Physical Component Summary (PCS) (F(2,
142)=42.926) were statistically significant (p=0.000). Also,
correlations among AIS, PAID Scale, BDS, SF-36 were found to be
significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: The presence of diabetes
does not require to have different nutritional habit on individuals
without diabetes. Although the diet quality of individuals with type 2
DM is not primarily related to the individual’s acceptance of the
illness, emotional distress, depression status and quality of life, the
status of medical nutrition as a part of medical treatment by the
individual is one of the important criteria in determining the
priorities in diabetes management.